;&o 


I^DEC  12  1938*1 

j>    c. — .Markets  6.  V  jf  Issued  August  24, 1917. 

United  States  DepSfSment  of  Agriculture, 

BUREAU  OF  MARKETS. 
Chaeles  J.  BranDj  Chief. 


DISTRIBUTION  AND  UTILIZATION  OF  THE 
GARDEN  SURPLUS. 


CONTENTS. 

Canning  and  drying 2 

Storing  for  winter  use  or  sale 3 

Marketing   the  surplus 4 


CONSERVE   THE  LARGE   CROP   OF   PERISHABLES. 

.  In  response  to  the  national  call  of  1917  to  assist  in  food  production 
the  number  of  gardens  has  been  increased  all  over  the  country,  and 
the  total  acreage  of  formerly  unused  land  thus  brought  into  produc- 
tion is  far  greater  than  is  generally  supposed.  People  who  have  had 
little  or  no  gardening  experience  are  endeavoring  to  supply  their 
own  vegetable  needs,  and  in  many  cases  the  production  of  these  gar- 
dens will  exceed  greatly  the  consuming  capacity  of  the  families 
working  them.  These  surplus  food  products  should  be  conserved  in 
the  home  and  in  the  community  for  future  use  or  be  distributed  in 
near-by  consuming  centers.  The  country  can  not  aiford  to  let  these 
excess  supplies  be  wasted,  and  unless  the  growers  can  dispose  of 
their  surplus  products  this  season  at  a  price  that  will  repay  at  least 
the  actual  cost  of  production  it  is  doubtful  whether  they  will  plant 
as  liberally  another  season. 

That  numerous  small  cities  and  large  towns  are  producing  potatoes, 
beans,  onions,  cabbage,  turnips,  beets,  and  other  vegetables  largely 
in  excess  of  the  present  needs  of  the  growers,  is  indicated  by  in- 
quiries addressed  to  the  Bureau  of  Markets  from  various  sections  of 

7522»— 17 


2  DISTRIBUTION  AND  UTILIZATION  OF  GARDEN  SURPLUS. 

the  country.  Since  the  purpose  of  the  desired  increased  production 
of  vegetables  was  the  increase  in  their  use,  that  more  of  the  grain 
and  meat  supply  might  be  released  for  the  use  of  the  military  forces 
and  the  allies  of  this  country,  patriotic  duty  does  not  end  with  mere 
production.  The  foodstuffs  must  be  preserved  or  stored  for  local 
use,  and  the  surplus  must  be  conserved  with  a  view  to  eliminating  as 
much  waste  as  possible.  Suggestions  to  these  ends  are  given  in  the 
following  pages : 

CANNING  AND  DRYING  FOR  WINTER  USE. 

In  addition  to  preservation  of  fruits  and  vegetables  by  home  can- 
ning and  drying,^  which  is  one  of  the  most  practical  services 
that  women  can  render  at  this  time,  there  are  community  can- 
ning and  drying  centers  where  the  work  is  done  on  a  larger  scale. 
In  several  localities  arrangements  have  been  made  with  the  local 
educational  authorities  to  use  the  domestic-science  equipment  in 
the  schools  for  giving  demonstrations  in  canning  and  drying  and  for 
the  actual  canning  and  drying  of  surplus  products  by  growers  in  the 
vicinity.  This  work  generally  is  done  under  the  direction  of  trained 
domestic-science  teaclters. 

TMiile  the  schools  represent  perhaps  the  most  logical  place  for  this 
work  when  it  is  conducted  at  a  center,  and  necessitate  the  least  ex- 
penditure of  funds  for  equipment,  some  localities  have  gone  to  the 
expense  of  providing  other  community  buildings  or  rocnns.  In 
some  instances  these  are  owned  privately  by  one  individual  or  by  a 
group  of  people,  while  in  other  places  the  municipality  either  wholly 
or  in  part  finances  the  undertakings.  Good  business  management  is 
essential  for  the  success  of  these  public  undertakings.  Experience 
has  proved  that  the  best  policy  is  for  such  establishments  to  be  op- 
erated on  a  self-supporting  basis,  charging  a  nominal  fee  for  the 
service  rendered. 

Where  canning  or  drying  establishments  already  are  in  existence, 
their  officials  sometimes  have  purchased  garden  surpluses,  large  or 
small,  within  a  specified  radius,  and  paid  for  them  in  cash  or  in 
canned  or  dried  goods.  In  other  instances  growers  have  taken 
produce  to  the  factory  to  be  canned  or  dried  and  paid  a  fixed  price 
per  can  or  pound  for  the  service  rendered.  In  cities  and  towns 
where  commercial  canning  and  drying  plants  exist  every  effort  should 
be  made  to  utilize  them  as  extensively  as  practicable.  As  a  rule,  it 
is  possible  for  the  canning  factory  to  can  vegetables  at  less  cost  than 

1  See  the  following  free  publications  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture :  Farmers' 
Bulletin  839,  "  Home  Canning  by  the  One-Period  Cold-Pack  Method  "  ;  Farmers'  Bulletin 
853,  "  Home  Canning  of  Fruits  and  Vegetables  "  ;  Farmers'  Bulletin  841,  "  Drying  Fruits 
and  Vegetables  in  the  Home." 


\^  »y  uu^t^i  ( 


DISTRIBUTION  AND  UTILIZATION  OF  GARDEN  SURPLUS.  3 

it  can  be  done  at  home;  and  if  the  management  is  willing  to  render 
service  to  the  individual,  then  the  people  should  be  informed  and 
urged  to  take  their  products  to  the  factory.  Activities  to  stimulate 
such  use  of  the  factories  may  be  undertaken  not  only  by  their  officials 
but  by  local  organizations  as  well. 

The  amount  of  various  articles  of  food  consumed  varies  accord- 
ing to  the  desires  of  the  individual  family.  The  housekeeper  usually 
can  foresee  the  quantities  of  canned  food  that  her  family  will  use. 
It  is  estimated  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  that  for  a  family 
of  five,  including  two  adults  and  three  children  under  12  years  of 
age,  under  ordinary  living  conditions,  the  following  quantities  of 
vegetables  and  canned  fruits  should  be  stored  to  provide  generously 
for  the  family  for  each  month  of  the  season : 

One  bushel  of  Irish  potatoes. 

One-half  bushel  of  other  root  vegetables. 

Twenty  to  twenty-five  quart  cans  of  other  vegetables. 

Fifteen  to  twenty  quart  cans  of  fruit  and  preserves. 

It  has  been  found  that  one-fourth  quart  of  dried  string  beans 
allowed  to  soak  overnight  is  equivalent  to  1  quart  of  canned  string 
beans.  This  ratio  of  1  to  4  may  be  used  to  represent  grossly  the 
relative  bulk  of  the  dried  green  vegetables  and  the  fresh  or  canned. 
Dried  fruits  and  vegetables  may  be  stored  as  substitutes  for  canned 
goods  according  to  their  proportionate  food  value. 

STORING  FOR  WINTER  USE  OR  SALE. 

It  now  appears  that  there  will  be  a  greater  production  of  potatoes 
and  other  vegetables  that  are  not  adapted  to  canning  and  drying 
than  many  local  markets  will  be  able  to  handle  to  advantage,  at 
least  during  the  time  of  harvest.  Growers  should  store  such  sur- 
plus products  either  for  winter  use  at  home  or  for  gradual  or  later 
sale  on  the  markets,  while  purchasers  might  find  it  advantageous  to 
buy  the  necessary  quantity  for  the  year  during  the  season  of  harvest 
if  adequate  storage  facilities  are  available. 

If  there  is  an  overlapping  of  seasons,  both  growers  and  purchasers 
should  use  liberally  day  by  day  the  vegetables  that  can  not  be  stored, 
so  that  the  less  perishable  root  crops  can  be  held  for  later  disposition 
or  use.  Food  products  for  home  storage  should  be  selected  carefully 
to  make  sure  that  they  are  in  a  firm  condition  when  they  are  stored. 

Space  in  the  cellar  that  is  to  be  used  for  storing  vegetables  should 
be  as  far  from  the  heating  plant  as  possible  and  inclosed  to  keep  out 
the  warm  air.^  Preferably  there  should  be  an  outside  window  in 
the  storage  space  that  can  be  used  to  let  in  cold  air  at  night  or  at 

iSee  free  Farmers'  Bulletin  on  Home  Storage  of  Vegetables,  No.  879. 


4  DISTBIBUTION  AND  UTILIZATION  OF  GARDEN  SURPLUS. 

other  times  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  down  the  temperature. 
Sound,  dry  vegetables  can  be  kept  in  this  way  in  good  condition 
for  winter  use.  For  more  specific  storage  information  relative  to  the 
various  crops  it  would  be  advisable  to  consult  the  State  agricultural 
college. 

MARKETING  THE  SURPLUS. 

To  carry  out  as  far  as  possible  the  original  purpose  of  greater  food 
production,  it  should  be  the  duty  of  each  gardener  to  develop  some 
plan  whereby  the  vegetables  not  needed  for  daily  use  and  not  held 
for  the  winter  will  not  be  wasted.  This  can  be  done  in  various  ways, 
depending  upon  the  quantity  of  the  surplus  and  the  existing  local 
conditions. 

Home  gardeners,  as  a  rule,  have  had  practically  no  experience  in 
marketing,  and  therefore  know  very  little  about  the  necessary  prepa- 
ration of  the  products  for  sale.  If  the  vegetables  are  not  reasonably 
well  sorted,  graded,  and  packed  in  suitable  containers,  they  will  not 
have  so  good  an  opportunity  for  sale  on  the  average  public  market. 
Like  professional  gardeners,  home  gardeners  who  aim  to  sell  their 
surplus  products  soon  will  be  forced  to  realize  that  well-graded  and 
well-packed  goods  usually  command  prices  that  more  than  pay  for 
the  extra  work.  Too  much  emphasis  can  not  be  given  to  the  impor- 
tance of  the  careful  preparation  of  the  garden  surplus  for  sale,  no 
matter  how  it  is  to  be  marketed. 

VARIOUS  METHODS  OF  SALE. 

Probably  the  most  usual  way  of  disposing  of  the  home  garden 
surplus  is  to  sell  or  exchange  with  neighbors.  Another  simple 
method  is  the  use  of  a  notice  or  bulletin  board  that  can  be  read  from 
the  street  or  road. 

Community  publicity  may  be  given  to  foodstuffs  for  sale  by  estab- 
lishing a  large  centrally-located  bulletin  board  for  posting  lists  of 
products,  together  with  the  quantities  for  sale,  the  time  when  they 
will  be  available,  and  the  names  of  the  people  offering  them.  The 
same  or  another  board  may  be  used  by  consumers  who  list  the  prod- 
ucts they  will  want  on  or  near  specified  dates. 

The  newspapers  furnish  another  method  of  advertising  garden 
surplus,  particularly  when  existing  in  considerable  quantity.  A 
paper  in  one  city  has  agreed  to  devote  space  in  its  columns  every  day 
to  publishing  information  concerning  the  kinds  of  garden  products 
that  are  plentiful  and  the  places  where  they  can  be  secured.  Any 
publicity  that  will  give  information  as  to  the  location  and  needs  of 
purchasers  and  of  a  near-by  supply  is  an  effort  in  the  right  direction. 

In  many  instances  growers  may  be  able  to  sell  to  the  local  grocers. 


DISTRIBUTION"  AND  UTILIZATION  OF  GARDEN  SURPLUS.  5 

It  is  realized  tliat  in  some  cities  retailers  often  are  able  to  secure  a 
more  regular  supply  of  vegetables  from  the  wholesalers,  who  sell 
the  produce  that  has  been  shipped  in;  but  in  many  cities  and 
towns  dealers  already  have  adopted  the  policy  of  buying  home- 
grown products  and  in  this  way  are  doing  their  part  to  relieve  the 
demand  on  transportation  facilities.  In  some  places  the  retailers 
have  agreed  to  buy  this  winter's  supply  of  potatoes  from  the  local 
producers  instead  of  having  them  shipped  in  as  they  generally  have 
done  heretofore. 

When  the  produce  is  sufficient  in  quantity  and  is  well  graded  and 
packed,  it  is  always  possible  to  sell  or  consign  to  any  local  wholesale 
and  commission  merchant  who  may  be  accessible. 

If  there  is  a  centrally  located  public  market  where  selling  space 
can  be  secured  for  h  nominal  daily  charge,  this  will  provide  one 
of  the  best  ways  of  marketing  the  home  garden  surpluses.  Where 
the  quantity  of  one  person's  products  would  not  warrant  taking  the 
time  necessary  to  sell  on  the  market,  a  number  of  gardeners  might 
find  it  advisable  to  employ  jointly  one  of  their  number  or  some  regu- 
lar market  dealer  to  sell  their  products  for  them. 

In  order  to  facilitate  the  sale  of  the  anticipated  large  supply  of 
fresh  garden  vegetables  several  localities  have  taken  steps  to  have 
community  or  neighborhood  curb  markets  established  in  the  smaller 
shopping  centers  to  be  used  on  certain  days  of  the  week.  The  success 
of  such  markets  will  depend  on  the  regularity  of  the  supply  fur- 
nished by  the  gardeners  and  the  measure  of  support  given  by  the 
consumers.  A  responsible  person  should  be  put  in  charge  with 
authority  to  enforce  the  necessary  rules  and  regulations  relative 
to  hours,  weights,  and  measures.  Some  cities  are  insisting  on  long 
market  hours.  The  result  is  an  inactive,  long-drawn-out  market  in- 
stead of  a  busy  center  w^here  the  producers  can  sell  out  quickly. 
From  6.30  or  7  a.  m.  to  10  or  11  a.  m.  are  good  hours  for  retail  public 
markets,  with  a  possible  extension  of  the  closing  hour  on  Saturday. 

In  localities  where  large  excess  of  production  is  probable,  muni- 
cipalities should  concern  themselves  in  its  proper  utilization,  and 
take  the  initial  steps  toward  establishing  a  market  if  public  market 
facilities  are  not  available.  When  it  is  certain  that  there  is  sufficient 
need,  the  city  authorities  should  give  most  careful  consideration  to 
the  factors  that  enter  into  every  public-market  undertaking.^ 

The  question  of  location  of  public  markets  is  of  importance,  be- 
cause it  has  been  found  that  many  markets  have  failed  through  being 
improperly  situated.  A  retail  market  should  be  centrally  located  in 
or  as  near  as  possible  to  the  main  shopping  section  where  street  car 

1  Yearbook  (1914)  Separate  636:  "Retail  Public  Markets."  U.  S.  Department  of 
Agriculture. 


6  DISTRIBUTION  AND  UTILIZATION  OF  GARDEN  SURPLUS. 

facilities  are  good.  On  such  a  site  the  public  market  would  be  avail- 
able to  the  greatest  possible  number  of  people. 

Good  business  management  is  essential  for  the  success  of  markets. 
The  lack  of  it  has  been  detrimental  to  their  development  in  general. 
It  is  desirable  to  have  a  person  in  charge  of  a  public  market  who  has 
a  general  knowledge  of  marketing  work  and  who  is  familiar  with 
local  conditions.  Such  a  person  should  be  given  the  power  to  enforce 
all  rules  and  regulations  for  the  proper  conduct  of  the  market,  and 
should  furnish  to  the  press  timely  information  regarding  the  volume 
and  prices  of  various  products  on  the  market. 

These  factors,  together  with  such  other  regulatory  measures  as  the 
local  conditions  may  make  necessary,  should  be  included  in  the  ordi- 
nance which  provides  for  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  the 
market.  Cities  contemplating  public-market  undertakings  can  obtain 
suggestions  for  a  coniprehensive  ordinance  and  advisory  aid  in  the 
marketing  problems  from  the  Bureau  of  Markets,  United  States  De- 
partment of  Agriculture,  Washington,  D.  C. 

ORGANIZED  AID  IN  MARKETING. 

Many  of  the  organizations  that  joined  in  the  campaign  to  increase 
production  have  aided  consistently  in  plans  for  disposing  of  the  sur- 
plus. Boys'  and  girls'  clubs,  women's  organizations,  and  business 
men's  associations  are  giving  aid  in  many  localities. 

Through  the  aid  of  the  boys'  and  girls'  clubs,  or  similar  organiza- 
tions, a  house-to-house  canvass  of  all  the  gardens  in  the  city  may  be 
made,  in  order  to  determine  in  advance  where  there  will  be  a  surplus, 
the  kind  and  the  amount. 

The  results  of  this  canvass,  particularly  the  information  relative 
to  the  products  estimated  for  sale,  should  be  compiled  according  to 
districts  and  posted  on  bulletin  boards,  published  in  the  local  papers, 
and  otherwise  distributed  among  the  consumers.  The  boys  and  girls 
can  be  of  further  assistance  in  conducting  a  sort  of  information 
exchange  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  buyers  and  sellers  together. 

Children  have  an  active  part  in  the  cultivation  of  the  home,  school, 
and  vacant-lot  gardens  in  many  localities.  In  some  cities  this  has 
been  of  sufficient  importance  to  warrant  the  setting  aside  of  special 
sections  of  the  public  markets  for  the  sale  of  boys'  and  girls'  garden 
products.  Where  no  municipal  market  existed,  interested  persons 
have  donated  the  use  of  vacant  lots,  or  the  children  have  obtained 
permission  to  use  the  school  yard  in  which  to  display  their  garden 
products  for  sale. 

Girls'  canning  clubs  are  well  organized  in  many  States.  The 
members  are  doing  such  good  work  that  the  marketing  of  their 


DISTRIBUTION  AND  UTILIZATION  OF  GARDEN  SURPLUS.  7 

products  has  become  a  problem.^  One  group  of  a  boys'  organization 
has  undertaken  the  spraying  of  the  gardens  throughout  the  city, 
the  only  charge  being  the  cost  of  the  materials  used.  The  possi- 
bilities of  service  for  boys  and  girls  at  this  time  are  many.  They  are 
limited  only  by  the  degree  of  individual  and  group  initiative. 

Women's  organizations  have  rendered  assistance  in  some  places 
by  providing  training  in  canning  and  drying.  An  organization  in 
a  city  of  the  Middle  West,  for  example,  arranged  for  a  week's  course 
of  lectures  for  three  hours  each  day  to  be  given  women  in  various 
parts  of  the  city  rather  than  at  one  center.  A  trained  domestic- 
science  teacher  was  secured  for  the  purpose  by  the  organization 
through  the  cooperation  of  the  home  economics  extension  depart- 
ment of  the  State  agricultural  college.  This  week's  training  was 
followed  in  various  districts  of  the  city  with  practical  demonstration 
work  by  professionally  trained  workers,  assisted  by  trained  volun- 
teer workers  and  local  organizations. 

In  one  locality  a  community  cannery  recently  has  been  established 
by  a  women's  conservation  committee.  A  special  committee  has 
charge  of  the  workshop,  which  is  on  the  ground  floor  of  a  large 
office  building,  within  one  block  of  a  wholesale  market.  The  use  of 
the  building  was  secured  free  of  charge  and  the  equipment  was  do- 
nated by  a  member  of  the  organization.  A  superintendent  has  been 
employed  for  three  months  and  his  salary  is  paid  by  the  women's 
organization.  The  work  will  be  done  by  members  who  have  agreed 
to  work  on  certain  days  and  who  will  be  paid  for  their  services  in 
canned  goods.  The  workshop  committee  may  be  called  upon  to  help 
in  case  of  emergency. 

For  obtaining  supplies  for  canning,  one  member  of  the  committee 
acts  as  purchasing  agent  and  six  stations  have  been  established  in  the 
county  where  garden  truck  may  be  bought.  Products  either  will  be 
bought  outright  with  funds  of  the  association  at  a  certain  specified 
per  cent  below  the  wholesale  market  price  in  the  city  or  they  will  be 
canned  for  the  owners  at  a  small  cost.  Orders  already  have  been 
received  for  3,500  cans  of  goods,  and  the  first  day  the  establishment 
was  in  operation  275  cans  were  filled.  In  another  city,  somewhat 
smaller  in  size,  a  group  of  young  women  have  organized  and  equipped 
a  canning  establishment.  Their  plan  is  to  buy  the  products  outright 
from  the  producers  and  to  sell  the  canned  goods  at  low  prices. 

The  final  results  of  these  plans  can  not  yet  be  known,  but  possibly 
other  communities  may  find  it  advisable  to  try  similar  methods. 

In  nearly  all  cities  and  larger  towns  the  business  men  are  or- 
ganized to  handle  matters  that  relate  to  the  commercial  life  of  the 

1  Markets  Doc.  5,  The  marketing  of  canning  club  products.  U.  S.  Department  of 
Agriculture. 


8  DISTRIBUTION  AND  ITTTLIZATION  OP  GARDEN  SURPLUS. 

municipalities.  The  problem  of  greater  production  of  foodstuffs  hag 
been  deemed  of  sufficient  importance  in  many  places  to  justify  the 
attention  of  a  special  committee  of  represenative  business  men.  In 
many  cases  there  seems  to  be  the  need  of  a  committee  to  superintend 
the  marketing  of  the  surplus  from  the  new  gardens. 

A  committee  of  business  men  could  act  in  cooperation  with  the 
women's  clubs  to  determine  the  true  state  of  local  conditions  and  to 
devise  some  plan  whereby  improvements  can  be  brought  about.  For 
example,  after  an  investigation,  the  business  men  of  one  western 
city  decided  that  community  drying  plants  were  needed,  so  they 
loaned  the  necessary  funds  to  establish  several.  These  plants  cost 
about  $200  each  and  were  so  located  as  to  serve  best  the  needs  of  the 
greatest  number  of  people.  A  small  charge  is  made  for  the  drying 
service  to  cover  the  cost  of  operation  and  to  pay  off  the  loan  grad- 
ually. 

In  other  places  where  the  business  men  are  not  financing  such 
community  enterprises  themselves  they  are  helping  the  municipality 
to  finance  and  manage  them.  One  eastern  city  has  appropriated 
$1,500  to  be  used,  together  M'ith  a  similar  sum  raised  by  a  business 
men's  organization,  for  the  establishment  of  a  drying  plant. 

At  one  time  another  western  city  faced  rather  strained  relations 
between  the  growers  and  the  dealers,  largely  due  to  a  misimder- 
standing,  which  was  removed  in  the  following  manner :  The  business 
men  secured  a  vacant  warehouse  located  on  the  railroad  and  placed 
a  competent  produce  man  in  charge.  The  farmers  delivered  their 
products  to  this  warehouse  and  the  local  dealers  secured  their  daily 
supply  from  there,  paying  the  market  price.  The  surplus  not  needed 
locally  was  properly  graded  and  packed  by  the  man  in  charge  of  the 
warehouse  and  shipped  in  carload  lots  to  the  most  favorable  market. 
All  accounts  were  audited  regularly  by  a  committee,  composed  of  an 
equal  number  of  growers  and  dealers.  Not  only  has  this  plan  greatly 
improved  the  marketing  methods  in  that  district,  but  it  has  created 
a  better  feeling  between  producer  and  dealer. 

The  city  growei-s  who  have  had  practically  no  marketing  experi- 
ence usually  are  not  organized  to  look  after  their  own  interests.  This 
need  suggests  a  service  that  the  business  organizations  can  well  ren- 
der, particularly  in  the  shipping  out  of  the  surplus  products. 

In  certain  localities  having  an  unusually  large  surplus  production 
of  perishables  by  amateurs,  a  committee  of  business  men  might  secure 
the  services  of  a  competent  person,  preferably  an  established  produce 
dealer,  who  has  adequate  warehouse  and  shipping  facilities.  Possibly 
arrangements  could  be  made  with  such  a  dealer  to  act  as  a  general 
shipping  agent  for  the  surplus  garden  products  that  might  be  turned 
over  to  him  for  that  purpose.  It  would  be  necessary  for  the  growers 
to  report  in  advance  the  kinds  and  estimated  quantities  of  vegetables 


DISTRIBUTION  AND  UTILIZATION  OF  GARDEN  SURPLUS.  9 

they  want  the  agent  to  handle  for  them  and  the  probable  date  of  ship- 
ment. A  supply  of  suitable  containers  for  transporting  the  goods 
reported  then  could  be  secured  by  the  shipper,  who  could  give  public 
notice  when  ready  to  load  a  car.  He  should  issue  a  receipt  for  each 
lot  of  products,  pooling  those  of  the  same  nature.  His  further  duties 
would  be  to  grade,  pack,  load,  and  sell  these  vegetables  in  the  most 
suitable  market.  Each  grower  would  share  in  the  net  returns  in  pro- 
portion to  the  relative  amount  and  value  of  his  shipment. 

The  agent's  compensation  for  his  services  should  be  agreed  upon 
in  advance,  and  ought  to  be  a  part  of  the  charges  against  the  total 
shipment  and  apportioned  among  the  various  growers  according  to 
the  relative  amounts  of  their  shipments.  A  committee  of  the  produc- 
ers and  the  business  men  should  review  the  returns  from  time  to  time 
in  order  to  see  that  a  proper  accounting  is  made  to  the  various  grow- 
ers by  the  shipping  agent.  Such  a  periodical  inspection  of  accounts 
would  remove  any  suspicion  on  the  part  of  the  producers  that  they 
had  not  been  dealt  with  fairly.  This  plan  is  not  feasible  except  when 
a  large  volume  of  produce  is  to  be  marketed. 

In  a  county  in  one  of  the  Middle  Western  States  where  there  are 
indications  of  a  surplus  of  potatoes,  the  county  conservation  com- 
mittee is  cooperating  with  a  business  men's  organization  of  the 
county  seat  and  they  plan  to  act  in  conjunction  with  the  Federation 
of  Commercial  Clubs  in  conducting  a  market  news  service  and  in 
placing  information  regarding  market  conditions  in  the  various 
cities  at  the  disposal  of  local  shippers.  The  county  conservation 
committee  is  to  furnish  figures  showing  the  quantities  of  potatoes  to 
be  marketed  from  the  diflPerent  parts  of  the  county.  In  this  way 
local  shippers  will  be  encouraged  to  assemble  carload  lots  by  being 
informed  as  to  the  best  markets. 

The  merchants  as  individuals  can  render  further  service  by  hav- 
ing store  and  window  demonstrations  of  the  different  ways  of  can- 
ning and  drying  vegetables.  Likewise  much  valuable  and  timely 
information  can  be  given  through  their  regular  advertisements  in 
the  newspapers  and  through  circulars  and  handbills. 

In  a  few  localities,  the  gardeners  who  anticipated  the  difficulties 
they  would  have  in  producing  and  marketing  their  products  have 
been  able,  through  cooperative  organization,  to  meet  their  prob- 
lems efficiently.  Through  this  organization  they  have  secured  first- 
grade  seeds  and  fertilizers  in  wholesale  quantities  and  therefore  at 
fair  prices.  They  obtained  the  advice  of  the  county  agricultural 
agents  regarding  the  best  methods  of  production.  Suitable  space 
on  the  public  markets  was  secured  and  other  arrangements  made  for 
the  local  sale  of  their  products  while  plans  were  worked  out  for  the 
collective  shipment  of  their  surplus  to  other  markets  when  necessary. 
The  help  of  the  local  press  was  enlisted  from  the  beginning  and 


10  DISTRIBUTION  AND  UTILIZATION  OF  GARDEN  SURPLUS. 

through  valuable  publicity  the  hearty  cooperation  of  the  business 
men  and  the  housewives  was  secured.  But  such  forms  of  coopera- 
tive organization  among  the  small  producers  are  very  rare.  It  may 
be  too  late  this  year  to  get  the  growers  together  to  handle  their  busi- 
ness problems,  but  if  conditions  warrant  it  a  substantial  organiza- 
tion should  be  perfected  as  soon  as  possible,  for  work  during  another 
season.  Plans  for  an  organization  of  this  kind  can  be  secured  from 
the  Bureau  of  Markets,  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture. 

The  numerous  organizations  and  groups  of  people  interested  in 
the  problem  are  striving  in  almost  as  many  different  ways  to  prevent 
the  waste  of  the  excess  crops  that  many  gardens  bid  fair  to  yield. 
It  would  be  worth  while  for  many  municipalities  to  endeavor  to  co- 
ordinate the  activities  of  these  different  groups  in  order  to  prevent 
unnecessary  duplication  of  effort.  If  the  city  provides  a  committee 
to  help  with  the  disposition  of  garden  products,  it  will  greatly 
facilitate  matters  to  have  on  that  committee  representatives  of  the 
organizations  that  already  may  be  working  on  the  problem. 


WASHINGTON  :  OOVEENMBNT  PRINTING  OFFICE  :  l9Vi 


